- In the 1810s, an old maid poses as her own niece in order to teach her onetime beau a lesson.
- On Quality Street in 1805 England, a gentleman passerby is an event, not only for the lady being called upon, but also for the ever-nosy female neighbors. When Dr. Valentine Brown calls on 20-year-old Phoebe Throssel, she almost expects a marriage proposal; instead, he has come to tell her that he has enlisted in the army to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, with no romantic syllable spoken. 10 years later, Phoebe and her older sister Susan now run a school and neither has married. At first sight of Phoebe, Captain Brown hardly recognizes her--the years haven't been kind to her and she is no longer the pretty young thing he once knew. Heartbroken at his reaction, she decides to pay attention to her appearance, realizing that she has been neglecting it. When Captain Brown returns, he is again stunned, and his reaction spurs Patty, the Throssels' maid, to introduce her as Livvy, their visiting niece. Captain Brown seems enthralled with "Livvy"--as does many a young returning junior officer. Phoebe wades into the situation with no plan except to keep masquerading as Livvy, string along all the junior officers, and make Captain Brown jealous enough to propose marriage to her, which she will then rebuke as a ridiculous suggestion. Will Phoebe be able to pull off the scheme, which includes fooling the ever-knowing spinster Willoughby sisters, the Throssel sisters' closest friends? Or will Captain Brown's admission to Livvy make Phoebe change her plan of attack?—Huggo
- Phoebe and Susan Throssel are sisters living on Quality Street. Phoebe is courted by Dr. Valentine Brown, and she, her sister Susan, and the nosy neighbors expect a proposal shortly. When he instead enlists in the British army during the Napoleonic wars claiming he has no "sweetheart," Phoebe is crushed. 10 years later, Valentine returns to find Phoebe and Susan teachers of their own school, 'Misses Throssel School For Boys and Girls'--and thirtysomething 'old maids.' Valentine asks Phoebe to the homecoming ball but despairs at how worn-out she looks--not like he remembers her at all. On a whim Phoebe dons a ballgown and takes real interest in fixing her hair again. When Valentine comes to try to persuade her to go to the ball, he actually doesn't recognize her, and she decides to play on his confusion: she tells him Phoebe doesn't feel well and introduces herself as "Livvy," Phoebe and Susan's visiting niece. Valentine and Livvy go to the ball together; continuing her game there, Phoebe attracts many male admirers--and also attracts the suspicions of three very snoopy spinster sisters. Valentine seems to be in love with her, but just when she thinks he'll propose, he scolds her for being a flirt, and that it's Phoebe that he loves. Phoebe is thrilled and desperately wants to return his affection, but her three nosy watches are keeping her trapped in her masquerade..—Kelly
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